Being Content is NOT the Same as Being Happy…

Being Content is NOT the Same as Being Happy…

How often do you take inventory of your business? Not talking about counting products or analyzing the number of clients and services you’ve provided for . . . rather, I’m talking about taking account for your specific goals in growing and maintaining your business.

How often do you revisit the initial goals you set for your business? Yes, goals. That’s the foundation for your business and the guiding principles that steer you into success. It’s important that you actually write out the goals for your business. While you might know them in your head, there’s something powerful, even magical in writing out your goals and looking at them often to see if you’re still aligned with those goals of how they can be tweaked. Perhaps you’ve reached or even exceeded the goals you set. If so, then now you need to write new goals. If you haven’t reached your current goals, why? What are some of the additional steps that you might need to take in order to achieve your larger goals?

Without looking at your goals at least once a week or every two weeks, we tend to get into autopilot mode and start coasting. While things might be going well, could they actually be going better? You might have gotten stuck in a routine or a rut and kept doing things according to “business as usual,” but usual does not take you to extraordinary, it keeps you mediocre and you, my friend are not mediocre. Content is being complacent and since you desire to be successful and dare I say, successful beyond your wildest dreams, then you must not become content or complacent. Even when things don’t go your way, you have to keep moving forward, as there is no need (or time) to have a pity party. A little pity party every once in a while won’t hurt anyone and can actually help to spur you into action, but just don’t get stuck at the party.

Remembering why you’re in business is a good “touch base” to bring you back to happy or to keep you happy. Most likely you went into business to try to help provide a solution and an alternative to what was lacking in the market. Your confidence in yourself and your skills allowed you see yourself as a resource, an authority on what needed to be done or provided for and how you could do so better than what already existed. Part of starting your business was also so that you could create a connection with your customers and make an impact in your community. Even if you’re still defining those goals and steps, that is true happiness. Connections are more than being contented; connections are dynamic, fluid, and action-oriented just as happiness is. Take action by letting your goals guide you to your happy place.

The founder, creator, master style mechanic, visionary and head seamstress behind Trish’s Garage is Ebony Rutherford. Her love for sewing, handmade goods, fashion and t-shirts (she love loves them) have melded together to form one of Detroit’s top small businesses.